Cleaning Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is for cleaning of articles, for example brushes. The apparatus comprises a container which is arranged for receiving a cleaning liquid, a lid which is arranged for closing the container, and means arranged for holding the articles at least partly fixed in an upper portion of the container. At least one paddle wheel is arranged rotatable in a lower portion of the container. The container comprises one or more wall portions which partly are surrounding the at least one paddle wheel and provide means arranged for guiding a flow of cleaning liquid from the at least one paddle wheel towards the upper portion of the container.

It is described an apparatus for cleaning of articles, for example brushes, more specifically by that it comprises a container which is meant for receiving a cleaning fluid, a lid in order to close the container, and means for keeping the articles at least partly fixed in the upper portion of the container.

The maintenance of brushes, that means cleaning of used brushes in a solvent which is meant for removing the actual liquid which is absorbed by the brush during use, is time-consuming, and in spite of many efforts, the result of a cleaning process is often not satisfactory.

GP 2213708 is describing a device for cleaning of brushes by means of a cleaning liquid wherein brushes are arranged in a lid on the device in a way in which the brushes are dipped into the cleaning liquid when the device is in use. The device is comprising a motor for rotating a chamber in order to set the cleaning liquid in motion relative the brushes, as well as a thread basket for collecting material particles which are liberated from the brushes during the cleaning. The thread basket can be removed from the chamber when the lid is opened.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,797 it is known a cleaning device for brushes wherein a house is containing means for bearing and operation of an endless, flexible ribbon with outwards directed bristle meant for combing the bristle part of the brushes. The ribbon is leaded over two rolls which are horizontal in the house and which are adapted to a drive. A removable lid is provided with means for clamping one or more brushes, and the house is containing means for supplying a stream of cleaning liquid under high pressure against the brush.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least to present a useful alternative to prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention through the features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

Even though the term “brush” is used in the description and in the claims, the inventive concept is not limited to an apparatus only for use by cleaning of brushes. For example it also comprises apparatuses for cleaning of other articles, for example paint rollers, where the issues are similar to cleaning of brushes, whereby the whole or parts of the article is subjected to a thorough flushing with a cleaning liquid over a longer period of time, where a limited amount of the cleaning liquid can be used due to cost reasons, pollution requirements, etc., and where it is desirable or required to collect the material which follows the cleaning liquid.

The invention provides an apparatus arranged for cleaning of articles i.e. brushes, the articles being located in an upper portion of a closable container. The container is in a lower portion provided with one or more paddle wheels arranged for initiating movement of a cleaning liquid which is contained in the container, the cleaning liquid thereby flowing towards the articles removing paint residues or the like with which the articles are coated. An upper portion of the container is arranged to contain one or more articles, for example brushes standing upright with a bristle part facing downwards. The container is provided with an opening, preferably as an open top, which is closable by means of a lid. Said paddle wheel is, preferable releasably, attached to a drive motor. In one embodiment the drive motor is provided as a net- or battery-powered drilling machine (drill) with a standard tool holder (chock) for releasable adaption to a drive shaft extending from a side wall of the container.

The apparatus comprises means for fastening the articles in the upper part of the container. In one embodiment the fastening means are arranged as a thread basket, preferably provided with several partition walls in order to allow the articles to be kept separated, and preferably in an upright position. The thread basket can be removable in order to provide a quick and easy possibility to remove the treated articles from the container.

In one embodiment the container is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet arranged at a distance from each other. By connecting the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to an external fluid system cleaning fluid can be circulated through the container, thereby constantly obtaining supply of clean cleaning liquid when the apparatus is in use. Alternatively the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet can be used for supplying a prescribed liquid amount before the apparatus is started, or the fluid outlet can be used when the container must be emptied after the finishing of the cleaning process.

The invention more specifically relates to an apparatus for cleaning of articles, for example brushes, comprising a container which is arranged to receive a cleaning liquid, a lid which is arranged for closure of the container, and means arranged for holding the articles, at least partly fixed in an upper portion of the container, characterized in that at least one paddle wheel is arranged rotatable in a lower portion of the container, and that the container is comprising one or more wall portions which partly are surrounding the at least one paddle wheel, and are providing means arranged for guiding a flow of cleaning liquid from the at least one paddle wheel towards the upper portion of the container.

The means arranged for fixing the articles can be made as a thread basket.

The thread basket can be provided with one or more separation walls.

The thread basket can be provided with one or more hand grips which are projecting upwards during use.

The container can be provided with means arranged for supporting the thread basket.

The container can be provided with a step arranged for receiving an edge portion of the thread basket.

The paddle wheel can be provided with a drive shaft which in a fluid tight manner is extending through an opening in a container side wall and is arranged for releasable coupling to a driving unit. The driving unit is typically a motor.

The upper part of the container can be provided with a fluid inlet.

The lower part of the container can be provided with a fluid outlet.

The paddle wheel can be a radial flow paddle wheel.

In the following an example of a preferred embodiment, illustrated in the enclosed drawings, is described, where:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective a cleaning apparatus according to the invention where a lid for clarity is removed, and where several brushes and other articles are put into the cleaning apparatus; and

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the cleaning apparatus.

In the figures the reference number 1 is a container with an open top 13 arranged to be closed with a lid 4. In a lower portion 1 a the container holds a paddle wheel 2. An upper portion 1 b of the container 1 is arranged for containing means for fastening the articles to be cleaned, here shown as a removable thread basket 3 designed to hold brushes and other painting equipment, standing upright. A driving means 5, here schematically shown as an electric drilling machine (drill) with a tool coupling 51 (chock) is connected to a drive shaft 23 projecting out of the container 1.

The paddle wheel 2 is arranged with a horizontal central shaft supported in recesses 15 in two opposite container side walls 11. A bottom portion 18 of the container is arranged as a trough corresponding to the paddle wheel 2, whereby the bottom portion 18 exhibits a prescribed clearance to the paddle wheel 2. The ends of the paddle wheel 2 hold a prescribed distance from the side walls 11. The drive shaft 23 is tortionally rigid attached to one end of the centre shaft 22 and is extending through a drive shaft opening 14 in the one container wall 11, where it is arranged a fluid tight gasket 141. In the opposite end the centre shaft 22 is providing an protruding shaft extension extending in to the corresponding recess 15.

The container 1 is provided with an internal, interrupted step 12 arranged in such a way that when the thread basket 3 is put in the container 1, it is standing with clearance to the rotation periphery of the paddle wheel 2. The step 12 is here shown as an abutment against a peripheral portion 33 of the bottom of the thread basket 3, but also other ways of positioning the thread basket 3 can be used.

The thread basket 3 is equipped with more separating walls 31 which are providing vertical supports for the articles which are to be cleaned and thereby holding them at a mutual distance. The thread basket 3 is equipped with a hand grip 32. In an operative position the grip 32 is abutting a portion 41 of the lid 4 and can thereby not lift from the step 12 when the cleaning process is started.

In the lower portion 1 a of the container 1 a fluid outlet 17 is arranged, equipped with an protruding pipe socket. Correspondingly the upper container portion 1 b of the container is provided with a fluid inlet 16 with a protruding pipe socket. The fluid inlet 16 and fluid outlet 17 are arranged for connecting to an external fluid system (not shown) for continuously or sequential circulation of cleaning liquid through the apparatus. In its simplest form such a fluid system can be constituted of two separate containers with associated conduits and valves. In a not shown embodiment the fluid inlet 16 can be omitted, the cleaning liquid being supplied to the container 1 through the top opening 13 of the container 1 before the cleaning process is started. Contaminated cleaning liquid can be drained off the container 1 after the cleaning process has been finished, the fluid outlet 17 being equipped with a (not shown) closing means, for example a manually operable closing valve.

When articles in need of cleaning, for examples brushes covered by paint, are to be treated, they are placed in the thread basket 3, preferably standing upright whereby they are supported by the separating walls 31, and with a bristle part preferably facing downwards for the most effective cleaning. The cleaning liquid is supplied to the container 1 in a prescribed amount, either by pouring it directly into the container 1 through the top opening 13 before the lid 4 is put in place, or by the prescribed amount of cleaning liquid being introduced through the fluid inlet 16, or cleaning liquid is continuously circulated through the container by continuous supply from a external fluid system (not shown) through the fluid inlet 16 and drainage through the fluid outlet 17 with return to the fluid system.

When the cleaning liquid is supplied to the container 1 and the lid 4 is closed, the paddle wheel 2 is put into rotation by means of the connected driving means 5. The cleaning liquid is set in a flowing motion up towards the upper portion 1 b of the container 1 where it is flowing at large speed towards the articles which are fixed and orientated by means of the thread basket 3. After sufficient treatment time the paddle wheel 2 is stopped and possibly the cleaning fluid circulation and the articles that has been cleaned are removed from the container 1 and dried. Remaining cleaning liquid can possibly be drained out of the container 1 through the fluid outlet 17. 

1. An apparatus for cleaning of articles, the apparatus comprising: a container which is arranged to receive a cleaning liquid, a lid which is arranged for closure of the container, and means which are arranged for holding the articles at least partly fixed in an upper portion of the container, wherein at least one paddle wheel is arranged rotatable in a lower portion of the container, the container comprising one or more wall portions which partly are surrounding the at least one paddle wheel and are providing means arranged for guiding a flow of cleaning fluid from the at least one paddle wheel towards the upper portion of the container, the paddle wheel being arranged with a horizontal centre shaft in a trough-like bottom portion of the container.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means arranged for fastening the articles are made as a thread basket.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thread basket is provided with more separating walls.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thread basket is provided with one or more hand grips projecting upwards during use.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the container is provided with means arranged for supporting the thread basket.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the container is provided with a step arranged for receiving an edge portion of the basket.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paddle wheel is provided with a drive shaft which in a fluid tight manner is extending through an opening in a container side wall and is arranged for releasable coupling to a driving unit.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the container is provided with a fluid inlet.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the container is provided with a fluid outlet.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paddle wheel is a radial flow paddle wheel. 